Panchyats in Haryana have more powers : Khatta

Chandigarh, Jan 15–The Haryana Chief Minister,Manohar Lal, today announced that the state government firmly belived in decentralisation of powers, and that more powers would be devolved on the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the state to strengthen their hands.

Speaking at the BJP state executive meeting at Panipat today, he invited suggestions from office-bearers of Zila Parishads, councillors and officers concerned with rural development on steps to be taken to make the sources of income of Zila Parishads more effective so that these could be made self-dependent and worked as independent bodies.

This would help strengthen the development of rural infrastructure. About Rs 4.5 crore has been allotted to the Zila Parishad, Panipat, where development works worth Rs 2.6 crore were under progress and work on other projects worth Rs 1 crore would be started soon.

Mr Manohar Lal urged members of the Zila Parishads to assist in getting development works completed before the prescribed time limit and ensure that quality development works were carried out with complete transparency.

Rapid development of rural areas is the priority of the state government and two-thirds of the budget is spent on rural development. Such panchayats as performed better would be honoured from time to time by the Central and the state governments, he added.